Forging apparatus.



E. H. STEEDMAN. FORGING APPARATUS. APPucAnoN msu ocT. 26. 1916.

1 ,25 l 1 28. Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

EDWIN H'. STEEDMAN, 0F ST. L 0UIS,4MISS0UBI.

FGRGING APPARATUS Specication of Letters' Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application ld October 26, 1916. Serial No. 127,792.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. STEEDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Forging Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, .and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to Vmake and use the same.

This invention relates toiapparatus for making hollow forgings.

In my pending application Serial No. 88,054, filed March 31, 1916, I have described a process for making uniformly accurate, hollow forgingsvhaving cavities or center openings that` are accurately lined and properly positioned, which processconsists,

in compressing a heated billet or metal blank and also forming a depression in the compressed portion of the billet, either in one operation or in successive operations, and thereafter forging a cavity or center opening in the billet by means of a piercing punch or other suitable member which is guided by the metal surrounding the depression in the compressed vportion of the billet, the outer surface of the billet being preferably shaped simultaneousl with the operation of forming the cavity 1n same.

The main object of my present invention is to provide an eflicient apparatus for practising the process above referred to.

Another object is to provide an a paratus for making hollow, concentric orgings, which is so constructed that forgings can be madequickly and without the necessity of stopping the apparatus frequently to permit the forging devices' to cool off.

Another obj ect is to provide an apparatus for making hollow forgings, which is so designed that the cooperating devices which shape the billet can be adJusted so accurately that concentric forgings of uniform shape are assured.

And still another object is to provide a forging apparatus of the general character referred to, in which the die that receives the heated billet is so constructed that it can be used for a long period without breaking. Other objects and desirable'features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings isa front elevational view, partly in vertical section, of a forging apparatus constructedv in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, illustrating the die and the piercing punch.

f Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the compressing plunger and the slide on which said plunger is mounted.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken onf-the line Ll-lro" Fig. '13, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the die and the bolster at the upper end of same.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of said bolster; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of said bolster, illustrating the means used for externally cooling the piercing punch.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of the invention, A designates a stationary die` that is adapted to receive a heated billet which is so shaped and proportioned that it can be dropped into the die A easily, even though the outer surface of the billet is irregular and has slighteprojections thereon, B designates a lcompressing plunger provided with la projection B', which plunger is used to compress the upper end portion of the billet and form a depression in said compressed portion, and C designates a piercing punch that forms a cavity or lhole in the billet and distorts the metal sutliciently to cause the outer surface of the billet to conform accurately to theshape of the die A. The apparatus herein illustrated is intended to be used for making a hollow forging provided with a lclosed end, but it will of course be, understood that the apparatus is not limited to this particular use, as it could be used for making a tubular-shaped article or article having a center hole extending completely through same. When the piercing plunger B movesdownwardly into engagement w1th the billet the projection B on said plunger forms a depression in the upper end of the billet, and the downward pressure that said plunger exerts on the billet forces the metal in the upper end portion of the billet laterally toward the side walls of the die A, causin the billet to..ll the dieV sufficiently to o er an equal resistance on all sides to the piercing punch C used in the succeeding operation. While I prefer to construct the apparatus in the manner herein illustrated, so as to cause the billet to be compressed` and provided with-a depression in one operation, I do not wish it to be understood that my invention is limited to an apparatus of this particular construction. lVhen the piercing punch C moves toward the die A, the end of said punch, which is tapered or substantially conical-shaped, enters the depression in the compressed upper end portion of the billet, thus causing the piercing punch to be centered accurately with relation to the die A. In view of the fact that 'the metal in the upper end portion of the billet is compressed until it practically fills the upper portionsy of the die A and is of substantially equal density surrounding the depression, the upper end portion of the billet will offer sufficient resistance lon all sides to the piercing punch C to hold said punch straight when it starts 'to enter the metal in the billet.. As the punch C continues to move through the billet, it is held substantially straight and is prevented from deiecting Afrom a straight line by means of the compressed metal surrounding the depression in the billet and by the metal that is compressed progressively and equally as the punch C travels through the billet. The result is that the completed forging will be commercially accurate, as the metal is distributed evenly throughout all portions of same and the center -cavity is practically concentric with the outside of the forging.

Various means may be employed for operating the compressing plunger B, and the piercing punch C and said elements and the die A can be formed in various ways without v departing from the spirit of my invention.

' disposed slide 3 I prefer, however, to construct the compressing plunger and piercing punch in such a manner that they can be adjusted easily, so that they can be centered accurately with relation to the die; construct the die in such a. manner that it can be used for a long period without breaking, and provide an adequate means-for cooling said elements, so as to produce an apparatus in which uniformly ac curate forglngs can be made rapidly and at ,a low cost. In the preferred form of my invention, as herein shown, the die A is stationary and the compressing plunger and piercing punch are carried by a, platen or cross head 1 connected to a piston that is operated by a medium under pressure, such, for example, as hydraulic pressure that is supplied to a cylinder D arranged above the die A, the platenfl being guided by vertical uprights or guides 2. The plunger B and punch C are mounted on the platen 1 in such a manner that they can be shifted laterally into and out of alinement withrthe die A, and in the apparatus herein shown this is accomplished by means of a horizontallythat is reciprocatingly mounted in a guide 4 on` the platen 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,' the plunger B and punch C being carried by said slide. Means nasales is provided'for adjusting the slide crosswise of the guide 4 or at right angles to the direction of movement of said slide, so as to enable the compressing plunger and piercing punch to be moved rearwardly and for-` wardly with relation to the die A, whichulating the screws 5 at opposite sides of the guideway 4, the slide 3 can be adjusted rearwardly or forwardly. Means is also provided for adjusting the compressing plunger B with relationpto the slide 3, so as to make it practicable to arrange both the plunger and the punch in absolutely accurate longitudinal alinement with the die A, as it might be impossible in some instances to adjust both the compressing plunger and the piercing punch properly with relation to the die if the adjusting screws 5 had to be depended upon for this purpose. In the form of my invention herein shown the compressing plunger Bis connected to the slide 3 by screws 7 that pass through elongated slots 8 in the head piece of the plunger B, and adjusting screws 9 are mounted in the guide 3 at the front and at the rear of the plunger B, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to adjust said plunger rearwardly and forwardly when the screws 8 are loosened. The adjustment of the plunger B and punch C to bring them into longitudinal alinement with the die A, or in other words, in a direction parallel to the path of travel ofthe slide 3 is effected by means of adjustable stops 10 and -11' that limit the movement ofthe slide 3 in opposite directions. is at its extreme right hand position, as shown in Fig. 1, the end of said slide bears against the stop 11, and when said slide is in its extreme left hand position, a portion of the slide or the head piece of the plunger B bears against the stop' 10. Each of said stops is retained in position by clamping screws 12, and a plurality of sh-ims 13 are provided for each stop. B removing one or more of the shims 13 or by adding additional shims, the position of either of the stops 10 or 11 can be changed so as to vary lthe degree of movement of the slide 3, and thus cause the plunger B and punch C to line up accurately with the die A when the slide 3 is inits two eXtreme positions. The shifting of the slide 3 can be effected either manually or by a vmechanical or other suitable means, the slide 3 of the apparatus herein illustrated being moved longitudinally of the guideway 4 by a piston arranged in a cylinder 14 that is carried by the guide 4, which cylinder is equipped with a valve 1'5 Vfor lVhen'the slide 3 controlling the supply of a medium under j pressure that actuates the In an apparatus of the character herein illustrated the billet being operated on is frequently subjected to a pressure of four or five hundred tons, and prior to my invention the dies 1of such machines caused considerable trouble, expense and loss of time on account of the die breaking in the piercing operation, due to the enormous internal pressure that the die was subjected to when the piercing punch was forced into the billet. In order to overcome this objectionable feature of such machines, I have constructed the die A in two parts which parts are so combined that the inner portion of the die, which directly contacts with the billet, is normally under sufficient pressure to partially neutralize the bursting strain that said portion of the die is subj ected to during the piercing operation. As shown in Fig. 2, the complete die A consists of a holder 16 and an inner liner 17 the inner liner 17 forming the face of the die and the holder 16 forming a casing for said inner liner. The inner liner 17 is tapered slightly from its upper toward its lower end, and said liner is forced into the holder 16 under suliicient pressure to cause said inner liner to be normally subjected to a great crushing pressure, or in other words, to a pressure that tends to cause said inner liner to collapse. Consequently, when the piercing punch C is forced into the billet, during the piercing operation,`the bursting pressure that the inner liner 17 is subjected to is neutralized or overcome by the crushing pressure that the holder 16 exerts on the inner liner. In constructing the die A I arrange a piece of lead or other suitable material in the bottom of the die holder 16 and then force the liner 17 into said holder under approximately the same pressure that is used in the operation of piercing the billet. Thereafter, I remove the liner 17 from the holder 16 and replace the piece of lead with a shim 18 of non-compressible material that prevents the liner 17, which is thereafter arranged in an operative position, from being forced farther into the die holder when the apparatus is in use. The inner liner may be formed either in one part or in two parts, but for the sake of economy in operation, I form the upper portion 17a of the liner separate from the lower portion, as the upper portion of the liner is not subjected to as severe strains as the lower portion, and consequently, can be used for a much longer period without breaking or wearing out. The upper portion 17a of the die liner is of annular form and is retained in position by a cap piece or bolster 19 that is connected in any suitable manner to the holder 16 of the die. This bolster 19 is provided with four lugs or portions 20 that serve as abutments against which the guide 4 strikes when the platen 1 is in its extreme lowermost position, and said lugs 20- also serve as a guideway for a stripper plate 21, hereinafter referred to. The vertical adjustment of the compressing plunger B and the piercing punch C with relation to the die is effected by means of shims 22 arranged above adjustable portions 23 of the. guide Llthat strike against the abutments 20 when the platen 1 moves downwardly. By removing one or more of said shims, or adding additional shims, the downward stroke of the plunger B and punch C can be accurately controlled. The stripper plate 21, previously referred to, is arranged to slide horizontally in the abutments 20, and said stripper plate is so positioned with relation to the punch C that the tapered lower end of said punch projects into the opening in said stripper plate when the punch C is in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 1. When the' slide 3 is moved to the left, to bring the piercing punch C into alinement with the die A, the Stripper plate 21 moves laterally with the punch and remains in operative position over the die so as to strip the completed forging from the punch when said punch moves upwardly out of the die. Thereafter, when the punch C is moved laterally to the right, the stripper plate 21 also moves to the right out of alinement with the die. An ejecting device is provided for vforcing the completed forging out of the die, 'the ejecting device used in the apparatus herein illustrated consisting of a knock-out pin 24 arranged to slidevertically through an opening in the bottom of the die liner 17 and operated by means of an air cylinder or other suitable actuating device 25.

In order to overcome the necessity of stopping the apparatus frequently to permit the compressing plunger and the piercing punch and die to cool off 'after they have been highly heated from contact with hot billets, I have provided said apparatus with a means for cooling said elements. The cooling means that I prefer to use comprises a continuous water circulating system for the interior of the piercing punch and the exterior of the die linerfmeans under control of the operator in charge of the apparatus for sulpplying cooling water to the exterior of the punch and the interior of the die liner, and means for externally cooling the compressing plunger at each cycle of operations of the apparatus. As shown in Fig. 2, the piercing punch C is hollow, and the upper end of same is closed by Ia plug 26 provided with an inlet oriice and an outlet orifice that communicate with flexible suprply and return pipes 27 and 28. An intake pipe 29 that extends downwardly into the center opening in the piercing punch conducts cooling water to the lower end of said punch, and after said water has ab-A sorbed heat from the punch, it escapes from the punch through the outlet pipe 28. The opening in the die holder 16, which receives the inner liner 17, is provided with water circulating passageways or grooves 30 that communicate with a Water supply pipe 31 and a return pipe 32, so that water will flow through the passageways 30 continually, and thus absorb heat from the inner liner 17 of the die. The means for externally cooling the piercing punch consists of a. rose head 33 and nozzles 34 arranged in such a manner that jets ofwater will be discharged onto the lower end portion of the punch C, as shown in Fig. 7, when said punch is in its inoperative position, and the means for internally cooling the die A consists of a movable nozzle 35 that can be moved into position to discharge jets of water into the die, after the completed forging has been ejected from the die, and thereafter into an inoperative position out of alinement with the die, as shown in broken lines and in full lines in Fig. 5, the suppl)7 of water to said rose head and nozzles being governed by a valve 36 under cntrol of the operator. A receptacle 37 filled Y#with water is arrangedY at one side ofthe die A in such a position that the compressing plunger B will be immersed in the water in said receptacle when the piercing punch is forced downwardly into the billet. In order to reduce the cost of operating the apparatus, I prefer to make the lower portions of the compressing plunger B and the piercing punch C removable, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that these portions', which are subjected to the greatest wear, can be replaced without renewing the entire plunger and punch.

When operating the apparatus a heated billet is dropped into the die A, and the platen 1 is then moved downwardly, so as to cause the plunger B to compress the billet and form a. recess in the upper end of same. After the platen 1 has been moved upwardly to Withdraw the plunger from the die, the slide 3 is moved to the left, looking at Fig. 1, so as to arrange the piercing punch C in longitudinal alinement with the die, and thereafter, the platen 1 is again moved downwardly, so as to force the piercing punch into the billet and cause the metal of same to be forged into a hollow article of the shape shown in section in Fig. 2, the depression in the upper end of the billet causing the punch to be centered accurately with relation to the die, and the compressed portion of the billet, which is of substantially equal density surrounding the depression, offering sullicient resistance on all sides to the punch to hold said punch straight when it starts to enter the metal in the billet. At the completion of the piercing operation the platen l is again moved upwardly to` withdraw the piercing punch from the forging, which is retained in the die by the stripper plate 21. Thereafter, the slide 3 is moved far enough to the right, looking at Fig. 1, to arrange the plunger B and punch C on opposite sides of the die A and permit the completed forging tobeejected from the die by the knock-out pin 24.

An apparatus of the construction above described not only produces hollow forgings of uniform shape and size in which the cen ter openings are accurately formed and in which the metal in all portions of the side walls of each article is of uniform density, but said apparatus also makes it possible to produce forgings of the character mentioned quickly and at a low cost, due to the fact that an adequate means is provided to cool the parts of the apparatus which become highly heated from contact with hot billets. The die of the apparatus is so constructed that it can be used for a long period without breaking, and the compressing plunger and piercing punch are so mounted that they can be adjusted easily, so as to bring them into accurate longitudinal alinement with the die.

r'Having' thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus for forming a h ollow forging, comprising means for forming a depression or recess in a billet and also subjecting the billet to longitudinal pressure while it is held against lateral expansion so as to compress the metal surrounding said depression, and a separate and distinct means for forming al cavity or center opening in the billet.

2. An apparatus for forming a hollow forging, comprising a die that is adapted to receive a heated billet, means for forming a recess or depression in the billet and also subjecting the billet to longitudinal pressure While it is confined in said-die, so as to compress the metal surrounding said depression and cause the metal in the billet to substantially fill the adjacent portion of the die, and a separate means guided by the compressed portion of the billet for forming a cavity or center opening in the billet.

3. An apparatus for forming a hollow vaccurately aline them with said die.

4. An apparatus for forming a hollow forging, comprising a die that is adapted to receive and confine a heated billet, a reciproeating member, a plunger carried by said out of longitudinal alinementwith the die.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a die that is adapted to receive and completely surround a billet, a reciprocating member, a slide on said member arranged to travel in a direction at right angles to the path of movement of said member, and separate and distinct devices on said slide one of which is adapted to compress the billet longitudinally and form a depression in the end of same and the 'other being adapted to forma cavity in the billet.

l6. In an apparatus of the character described, a die that is adapted to receive and confine a billet, a reciprocating member, 'a slide on said member arranged to travel ina direction at right angles to the path of movement of said member, separate and distinct devices on said 'slide that are adapted to operate successively on said billet to form a depression and compressed portion at the upperend of the billet and thereafter form a cavity in the billet, and means for adjusting said slide in a direction at right angles to its path of movement so as to effect the proper alinement of said devices and said die.

7. In an apparatus of the character referred to, a die that is adapted to receive a billet, a reciprocating member, a slide on said member arranged to move in a direction at right angles to the path of movement of said member, devices on said slide that are adapted to operate successively on said billet, adjustable means for limiting the movement of said slide in opposite directions, and independent means for adjusting said slide with relation to the member on'which it is mounted so as to effect the proper longitudinal alinement of said devices and die.

8.r In an apparatus of the "character vreferred to, a die that is adapted to receive a billet, a reciprocating member provided with a guide, a slidev in said guide that is adapted to be moved in a direction at right angles to the path of movement of said member, a plurality of devices on said slide that are adapted to operate successively on thebillet in the die to first compress the billet longitudinally and form a depression in the end of same and thereafter form a cavity in the billet, and means for adjusting said slide 1n two directions at right angles to each other so as to accurately aline said devices with said die.

9. In an apparatus of the character referred to, a die that is adapted to receive a billet, a reciprocating member provided with a guide, a slide in said guide that is adapted to be moved in al direction at right angles to the path of movement of said member, a plurality of devices on said slide that are adapted to operate successively on the billet in the die to first compress the ,billet longitudinally and form a depression in the end of same and thereafter form a cavity in the billet, means for adjusting said slide in two directions at right angles to each other so as to accurately aline saidl devices with said die, and an independent means for adjust' ing one of said devices with relation to said slide.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a die that is adapted to receive a billet, a reciprocating platen, a slide on said platen arranged to move in a direction at right angles to the path of movement of the platen, adjustable means for determining'the position of said slide with relation to said platen and for limiting the movement of Said slide in opposite directions, devices on said slide that are adapted to operate successively on the billet in said die, a stripper plate that is moved into and out of position by one of said devices, and means for ejecting the completed forging from the die.' y i 11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a-die that is adapted to receive a billet, a reciprocating platen, a slide adjustably mounted on said platen and equipped with devices that are adapted to guided by said cap piece and adapted to be y moved into and out of operative position by one of the devices on said slide.

12. A die, comprising a holder provided with a tapered socket, a tapered die liner that is forced into said socket under great pressure, and means arranged between the lower end of Said liner and the bottom of said socket for preventing the liner from being forced farther into the holder when the die is in use.

13. An apparatus for forging-hollow articles, comprising a die that is adapted-to receive and surround a heated billet, a plunger for compressing the billet and simul-- taneously forming a depression in the end of same while the end Portion-of the billet is confined by the die, and a piercing punch for forming a center cavity or opening in the billet, said die, plunger and punch having removable portions that can be renewed.

14. An apparatus for forming a hollow forging, comprising a die that is adapted to receive a heated billet, a piercing punch for forming a center opening or cavity in Said billet, means for continuously supplying a cooling medium to the interior of said die and punch, and means for intermittently cooling the exposed surfaces of said die and punch.

15. In a machine of the character described, a piercing punch that is adapted to be forced into a heated billet, means for causing water to circulate continuously through the interior of said punch to cool same, and means under the control of the operator to intermittently cool the exposed surface of the punch.

16. A forging machine provided with a die that is adapted to receive a heated billet, a piercing punch that is adapted to be forced into said billet, and means for externally and internally cooling said die and punch.

17. A forging machine provided with a die that is adapted to receive a heated billet, a piercing punchV that is adapted to be forced into said billet, a water cooling system for cooling the interior of said punch and the exterior of said die, and means under control of the operator in charge of the machine for cooling the interior of said'die andthe exterior of said punch.

18. An apparatus for forming hollow forgings, comprising a die that is adapted to receive a'heated billet, a plunger for compressing said billet and forming a depression in one end of same, a piercing punch for forming a center opening or cavity in said billet, and means for cooling the exterior of said die and the interior of said plunger.

19. An apparatus for making hollow forgings, comprising` a water-cooled die that is adapted to receive a heated billet, an internally water-cooled piercing punch that is adapted to be forced into said billet, and means for supplying cooling water to the interior of said die and to the exterior :of said punch when the die is empty and the punch is not in use.

20. An apparatus for forming hollow forgings, comprising an internally watercooled die that is adapted to receive a heated billet, a reciprocating platen, a slide on said Vplaten provided with devices that are adapted to operate successively on the billet in said die, means for moving said slide with relation' to Said platen, means for applying a cooling medium to the exterior of both of the devices on the slide and to the interior of one of said devices, and means whereby the devices on said slide can be arranged in accurate longitudinal alinement with said die.

EDWIN H. STEEDMAN. 

